By: Daniel Nardini
The management of Sensata Corporation has threatened its workers with shutting down the factory earlier than December if the workers do not stop protesting. The workers feel they have nothing left to lose, so they will not stop protesting. Further, the workers have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board about Sensata management threatening the workers over their right to free speech. The workers still have their protest camp against Sensata set up just across from the factory, and it will remain there until the factory closes—whenever that is. The Sensata Corporation, producer of equipment and electronic sensors, is slated to close in December and all of its facilities and jobs will be shipped to China. In China, the workers there will work for only 99 cents and hour. The result of course will be the loss of 170 jobs in Freeport, Illinois. The greater story is one of another out-sourcing of jobs from the United States.
It seems inevitable that these jobs will be lost for sure. Ironically, the Sensata company was making a profit. It seems they want to make more of a profit, so these jobs are going to China. Bain Capital, which owns Sensata, is the chief culprit behind the out-sourcing. And yes, Mitt Romney is still a major holder of Bain Capital (and before anyone starts cheering for U.S. President Barack Obama, keep in mind that he has not lifted a finger to help the workers either). It is troubling that despite all of the publicity, despite all of the protests, and despite all of the pleas by not only the workers but also of the town of Freeport, the mayor of Freeport, and the governor of Illinois, all of the Sensata jobs will be relocated to China. I seriously doubt that anything will be done to save these jobs now, and so the workers feel they have nothing to lose. In my view they have nothing left to lose. Does it matter whether the factory is shut down this month, as management has threatened to do, or in December? The workers are going to lose their jobs anyways.
So in my view they have every right to fight back any way they can and in any way to hit management where it hurts the most. I wish that these jobs will be saved. But I do not see it happening now. Because of this, I see the Sensata workers fighting to the end. I am feeling very bad for them. They will not only lose their jobs. They will be losing their livelihoods, their incomes, and be forced to make terrible decisions that will affect their families. But one thing they intend to keep and that is their dignity. They will go down fighting, but they will keep their honor and humanity.
They Are Dying With Their Boots On
By: Daniel Nardini
It seems inevitable that these jobs will be lost for sure. Ironically, the Sensata company was making a profit. It seems they want to make more of a profit, so these jobs are going to China. Bain Capital, which owns Sensata, is the chief culprit behind the out-sourcing. And yes, Mitt Romney is still a major holder of Bain Capital (and before anyone starts cheering for U.S. President Barack Obama, keep in mind that he has not lifted a finger to help the workers either). It is troubling that despite all of the publicity, despite all of the protests, and despite all of the pleas by not only the workers but also of the town of Freeport, the mayor of Freeport, and the governor of Illinois, all of the Sensata jobs will be relocated to China. I seriously doubt that anything will be done to save these jobs now, and so the workers feel they have nothing to lose. In my view they have nothing left to lose. Does it matter whether the factory is shut down this month, as management has threatened to do, or in December? The workers are going to lose their jobs anyways.
So in my view they have every right to fight back any way they can and in any way to hit management where it hurts the most. I wish that these jobs will be saved. But I do not see it happening now. Because of this, I see the Sensata workers fighting to the end. I am feeling very bad for them. They will not only lose their jobs. They will be losing their livelihoods, their incomes, and be forced to make terrible decisions that will affect their families. But one thing they intend to keep and that is their dignity. They will go down fighting, but they will keep their honor and humanity.